Julia Roberts has earned her reputation as America’s sweetheart, and it's the right time of year to celebrate the actress, who celebrates her birthday October 28 (she’ll be turning 51).
Roberts and her wide, pearly grin have been charming audiences since her breakout performance in 1988’s “Mystic Pizza.” She’s one of the most successful Hollywood actresses of all time, with her movies earning more than $2.8 billion at the box office, and many performances earning critical acclaim, including her Academy Award-winning turn in “Erin Brockovich.”
Want to revisit some of Roberts's most memorable appearances? Here are the five best movies to stream to celebrate Julia Roberts’s birthday.
1. Pretty Woman
No list of Roberts’s best movies could kick off without the 1990 romantic comedy that shot her star into the stratosphere and made her one of the most famous women on the planet. As Vivian, a prostitute with a heart of gold, Roberts delighted us with her wide-eyed reactions to the wealth and privilege client Edward (Richard Gere). Who didn’t cheer when she got revenge on the snobby store clerk? And the best part is that the happy ending isn’t just Edward rescuing Vivian, it’s Vivian rescuing him right back.
“Pretty Woman” is available to stream on Hulu.
2. Steel Magnolias
Get the tissues ready, because this uplifting weeper features Roberts’s most heartbreaking role. She plays Shelby, a young bride who suffers from Type 1 diabetes. When she gets pregnant, her mother M’Lynn (Sally Field) is terrified that having children is too dangerous for Shelby. It’s the strong friendships among the women in town that support M’Lynn. And Shelby’s bright spark and love will continue on in the next generation.
“Steel Magnolias” is available to stream on Netflix.
3. Erin Brockovich
Roberts had won two Golden Globes, for the two movies above, but she had yet to break into the Oscars. That changed with her fiery performance in the biopic “Erin Brockovich.” Playing a working-class single mom of three who helps take down an energy corporation, Roberts showed a gritty, tough-as-nails side and wound up winning the Academy Award for Best Actress.
“Erin Brockovich” is available to rent or purchase on Amazon.
4. My Best Friend’s Wedding
For years, the romantic comedy genre was owned by Roberts, starting with “Pretty Woman,” of course. She also made everyone fall in love with her in “Notting Hill,” “Runaway Bride,” and 1997’s “My Best Friend’s Wedding.” Her character, Julianne, realizes she’s in love with best friend Michael (Dermot Mulroney) — on the eve of his wedding. Julianne attempts some underhanded, mean stunts to prevent the marriage, but it's hard to truly dislike her, thanks to Roberts’ vulnerability and charm.
My Best Friend’s Wedding is available to stream on Hulu.
5. Wonder
In recent years, Roberts has been very choosy about the projects she accepts. Her two most recent films see her playing strong, loving mothers, but where “Ben Is Back” a more harrowing tale of a teen addict, “Wonder” is a feel-good dramedy about a young boy (Jacob Tremblay) with facial defects. Roberts shines as his sensitive, tremendously supportive mom, who does everything she can to encourage her son as he attends a new school.
“Wonder” is available to stream on Epix.
